The origins of Red Lion's playoff run
As we sit here in anticipation of Red Lion's District 3 semifinal clash against Daniel Boone on Friday, I can't help but think back to a point when the Lions season was cast squarely into doubt. In Week 7, Red Lion collapsed in the second half of a 36-14 home loss to Spring Grove. The Lions were outscored and outplayed the entire second half, as the Rockets reeled off 22 unanswered points. I remember being at that game. It was a very perplexing loss for a Red Lion team that was, at that point, considered a favorite in YAIAA Division I. It also presented the Lions with a turning point in their season. How would they respond to a setback like this? By now we know how Red Lion reacted. It won four of its next five games -- and was another subpar second half away from winning all five. It is a testament in many ways to Red Lion's leadership -- and specifically its 18-deep group of seniors. Those players rededicated themselves after last year's disappointing, 4-6 season. They helped the Lions refocus after losses to Spring Grove and Dallastown. And now Red Lion sits one game away from where only one YAIAA team has gone before: A District 3 Class AAAA championship game.